Spain’s justice reopens case against Polisario leader

LONDON - Spain’s justice reopened a case for crimes against humanity targeting Polisario Front leader Brahim Ghali who has been hospitalized since April 2021 in a facility in Logrono in northern Spain after entering the country with a forged identity.

Brahim Ghali, who is being treated for COVID-19, has already been summoned to appear on June 1 in Spanish courts following a complaint for “torture and kidnapping” which was initiated by one of the dissidents in Spain.

Ghali must also appear before Spanish justice for another case. The Sahrawi Association for the Defence of Human Rights also lodged a complaint years ago, accusing Ghali of alleged crimes against humanity, including genocide, torture, assassinations and disappearances, judicial sources said.

According to the complainant, these crimes targeted dissidents who took refuge in Tindouf refugee camp, in western Algeria.

The Madrid-based high court revived the case because of Ghali’s presence on Spanish soil. The Spanish police were able to formally identify him after his hospitalization.

Spain’s approval of Ghali’s entry under a false name sparked one of the worst diplomatic crises between Rabat and Madrid.

In the last few days, thousands of migrants stormed into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, prompting Madrid’s outrage at Moroccan authorities for their “passivity.”

Some Spanish media outlets criticised their government for committing “unforgivable mistakes” with ally Morocco.

"Spain made a very serious mistake in compromising its relations with Morocco when the presidency of the government allowed the former vice-president of the executive Pablo Iglesias to speak about the sovereignty of the Sahara disavowing the support of the United States to Morocco,” wrote Spanish daily ABC in tis editorial.

“This has revealed the enormous shortcomings of our diplomacy and the superficiality with which the head of government Pedro Sánchez approaches the foreign policy of the country,” said ABC.

“Spain’s hosting of the Polisario leader, subject to legal proceedings and without even informing Morocco, was another monumental error,” it added.